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SAVED FESTIVAL 2011, Manila - Six hours of worship with eight amazing Christian bands and performers and one inspiring pastor. Was the 1k ticket worth it? Are you kidding me?! There's no price tag for uninhibited, passionate, and sincere worship for God!
A concert for worship
Everyone who follows the Filipino pop scene must know that Gary has been battling Type 1 Juvenile diabetes, a sickness he has lived with since he was 14 years old. He emphasized that it was amazing that he was even performing for us at that moment. Isn't God amazing?
More Pinoy worship leaders
After many songs from Gary V (which I believe was already worth more than 1k!), Quest motivated us to let go and enjoy the party. He got everyone up on their feet to dance.
I also loved his smooth and inspiring RnB/rap grooves that were just so good for the spirit. Those who like Pinoy Christian worship might recognize Quest as Jose Villanueva III, the one who composed the touching "Lord of All".
Sideshow followed Quest's upbeat performance with some Pinoy Christian rock. There should be more powerful voices and bands like Sideshow! Kamown Pinoy Christian musicians! Rock for God!
It was the first time I heard Jodi King. She sang Breathing in/Breathing Out plus some other songs with her husband on the guitar (awww so sweet).
One of the best things about the concert was hearing life testimonies of the grace of God. Pastor Steve Ruetschle of the Union Church of Manila talked about his personal experience with brokenness and the power of prayer. He was in a motorcycle accident that made him a quadriplegic, and doctors told him that he would never walk again. It was the faith and prayers of his friends and wife that pushed him through this difficult phase. He likens his story to the story of the paralytic whose friends wanted to bring their paralytic friend to Jesus to be healed. However, the house where Jesus was staying was already filled with people when they got there, so the friends decided to course the paralytic through the roof. This way, Jesus was able to heal the man. Pastor Steve reminds us that everyone suffers from brokenness in one form or the other. During our times of brokenness, we should never underestimate the power of praying for each other.
In a benefit concert for Pastor Steve, Gary V told the audience that he had a vision of the then-paralyzed Pastor running. Seeing Gary V onstage, dancing and singing, and comparing himself seated on a wheelchair, Pastor Steve found this unbelievable. His friends did not lose faith though and continued to pray for him. Today, the pastor praises God for His faithfulness.
He's not just walking...preach it, Pastor Steve!
Two in One
Other amazing testimonies were those of the Parachute Band and Martin Smith of Delirious?
Parachute Band Frontman Omega Levine talked about being bullied growing up because of a physical deformity. He became bitter and angry despite being raised in a Christian family with a pastor for a father. It was the love of God that brought about the positive transformation in his life. The band led all of us to an amazing worship and sang their new song, "Keep the Fire Burning".
Martin Smith's testimony really inspired me. Martin is the composer of "I Could Sing of Your Love Forever" and most people know him as the lead singer of Delirious?, a popular Christian band. Martin said that the band's schedule could get really busy, and they had to rush and fly around the world to go to gigs. It got to a point that his intimacy with Jesus became compromised. It was because of this that Delirious? decided to disband. Martin said that sometimes, you just had to do things like "leave the band" because you have to set your sights on a bigger prize -- Jesus Christ.
It was great seeing Martin Smith and the Parachute Band together, singing. Despite their relatively popular status, they shifted our eyes from being starstruck and led us to praise God.
Dancing and Singing with Starfield
Martin Smith and Parachute Band were followed by Starfield. The band stimulated us yet again with a string of Christian rock tunes. Lead singer Tim Neufeld also lent some humor to the concert and led the crowd to groove to some, as he says it, "ridiculous" dance moves.
Saved...the ending and the beginning.
Need I say that Citipointe rocked Araneta?
Six hours of praise and worship wasn't tiring. It was refreshing. I left that concert knowing that something in me had changed and that the best things had been revived. Praise God for beautiful endings and even more beautiful beginnings.
For it is written, "AS I LIVE, SAYS THE LORD, EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW TO ME, AND EVERY TONGUE SHALL GIVE PRAISE TO GOD." - Romans 14:11, NASV
Beautiful people I was with
Beautiful Church that led me here
Beautiful God
Saved Festival 2011 was held at the Araneta Coliseum, Manila last Nov. 26, 2011.
More (and better) pictures here
Saved is an annual God-centered festival where people from all over the world will travel far and wide to witness the great gathering of united Filipino believers in Jesus Christ!
From the Saved 2011 Facebook page:
The SAVED FESTIVAL 2011 is for the benefit of:
WORSHIP PROJECT (2011)
THE WORSHIP PROJECT recognizes the need to enable committed and qualified individuals to lead the local churches in their spiritual worship, equipped with Bible-based discipleship and high-quality instruments. THE WORSHIP PROJECT will target select churches in Metro Manila in need of better instruments in order to further encourage and reinforce that our worship to the Almighty Father should be nothing short of excellent. The following program provides discipleship and interactive training sessions to further advance each team member’s growth in their skills, God-given talents, and spiritual life.
At the end of the program, the participating churches will be rewarded and equipped with instruments of upgraded/enhanced quality as available.
A concert for worship
 |
| Gary V's fire-filled performances left us wanting for more of God |
The
difference between this Christian concert with other concerts I had attended
in the past was that all the shouting, clapping and frenzied joy were not for idols we were watching, but for the one true God who alone is worthy of our
praise. Every performer exhibited this attitude for God when they went
onstage.
Gary V. is one of the, if not the, most well-known and vocal Christian performers in the Philippines today. To put his popular songs like "Take me Out of the Dark" and "Natutulog ba ang Diyos" in context, he interspersed his singing and dancing with readings from bible verses and some personal reflections. He told us that sometimes when he performed and said stuff like "praise Jesus", people would usually look at him oddly. He said that it felt great to be in the presence of people who would actually understand what he meant when he said things like those. I feel you Gary V! In a concert such as this, you really wouldn't be able to help praising and thanking God.
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| Lyrics were projected for free worship. These are lines from one of my many favorite Gary V. songs |
Mr. Pure Energy
Gary V. is also known as Mr. Pure Energy, and people just naturally assume that it's because of his awesome dance moves. To quote roughly: "I'm called Mr. Pure Energy, not because of this (dances a bit for the audience); all the energy comes from God"
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| Mr. Pure Energy himself |
More Pinoy worship leaders
After many songs from Gary V (which I believe was already worth more than 1k!), Quest motivated us to let go and enjoy the party. He got everyone up on their feet to dance.
I also loved his smooth and inspiring RnB/rap grooves that were just so good for the spirit. Those who like Pinoy Christian worship might recognize Quest as Jose Villanueva III, the one who composed the touching "Lord of All".
Sideshow followed Quest's upbeat performance with some Pinoy Christian rock. There should be more powerful voices and bands like Sideshow! Kamown Pinoy Christian musicians! Rock for God!
 |
| Photo from Sideshow's Facebook page |
It was the first time I heard Jodi King. She sang Breathing in/Breathing Out plus some other songs with her husband on the guitar (awww so sweet).
 |
| Beautiful woman of God |
One of the best things about the concert was hearing life testimonies of the grace of God. Pastor Steve Ruetschle of the Union Church of Manila talked about his personal experience with brokenness and the power of prayer. He was in a motorcycle accident that made him a quadriplegic, and doctors told him that he would never walk again. It was the faith and prayers of his friends and wife that pushed him through this difficult phase. He likens his story to the story of the paralytic whose friends wanted to bring their paralytic friend to Jesus to be healed. However, the house where Jesus was staying was already filled with people when they got there, so the friends decided to course the paralytic through the roof. This way, Jesus was able to heal the man. Pastor Steve reminds us that everyone suffers from brokenness in one form or the other. During our times of brokenness, we should never underestimate the power of praying for each other.
In a benefit concert for Pastor Steve, Gary V told the audience that he had a vision of the then-paralyzed Pastor running. Seeing Gary V onstage, dancing and singing, and comparing himself seated on a wheelchair, Pastor Steve found this unbelievable. His friends did not lose faith though and continued to pray for him. Today, the pastor praises God for His faithfulness.
He's not just walking...preach it, Pastor Steve!
 |
| Pastor Steve: Walking, but not running...."yet" |
Two in One
Other amazing testimonies were those of the Parachute Band and Martin Smith of Delirious?
Parachute Band Frontman Omega Levine talked about being bullied growing up because of a physical deformity. He became bitter and angry despite being raised in a Christian family with a pastor for a father. It was the love of God that brought about the positive transformation in his life. The band led all of us to an amazing worship and sang their new song, "Keep the Fire Burning".
Martin Smith's testimony really inspired me. Martin is the composer of "I Could Sing of Your Love Forever" and most people know him as the lead singer of Delirious?, a popular Christian band. Martin said that the band's schedule could get really busy, and they had to rush and fly around the world to go to gigs. It got to a point that his intimacy with Jesus became compromised. It was because of this that Delirious? decided to disband. Martin said that sometimes, you just had to do things like "leave the band" because you have to set your sights on a bigger prize -- Jesus Christ.
It was great seeing Martin Smith and the Parachute Band together, singing. Despite their relatively popular status, they shifted our eyes from being starstruck and led us to praise God.
 | |
| Photo from Facebook wallpage of Parachute Band |
Martin Smith and Parachute Band were followed by Starfield. The band stimulated us yet again with a string of Christian rock tunes. Lead singer Tim Neufeld also lent some humor to the concert and led the crowd to groove to some, as he says it, "ridiculous" dance moves.
 |
| Hosanna in the Highest |
 |
| Beautiful man of God |
Saved...the ending and the beginning.
Need I say that Citipointe rocked Araneta?
Six hours of praise and worship wasn't tiring. It was refreshing. I left that concert knowing that something in me had changed and that the best things had been revived. Praise God for beautiful endings and even more beautiful beginnings.
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| Photo shared by Amalia dela Cruz on Facebook |
Beautiful people I was with
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| Ria, Mabs, April |
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| VGmates from Ortigas and Los Banos |
Beautiful Church that led me here
 |
| The shirt is my Saved Festival souvenir |
Beautiful God
Saved Festival 2011 was held at the Araneta Coliseum, Manila last Nov. 26, 2011.
More (and better) pictures here
Saved is an annual God-centered festival where people from all over the world will travel far and wide to witness the great gathering of united Filipino believers in Jesus Christ!
From the Saved 2011 Facebook page:
The SAVED FESTIVAL 2011 is for the benefit of:
WORSHIP PROJECT (2011)
THE WORSHIP PROJECT recognizes the need to enable committed and qualified individuals to lead the local churches in their spiritual worship, equipped with Bible-based discipleship and high-quality instruments. THE WORSHIP PROJECT will target select churches in Metro Manila in need of better instruments in order to further encourage and reinforce that our worship to the Almighty Father should be nothing short of excellent. The following program provides discipleship and interactive training sessions to further advance each team member’s growth in their skills, God-given talents, and spiritual life.
At the end of the program, the participating churches will be rewarded and equipped with instruments of upgraded/enhanced quality as available.
